Perfect Party Portions

You’ve been prepping your party for weeks; the rsvp’s have come back, you’ve got an epic party playlist and you know what you’re going to be serving. But how much food do you actually need? Here’s how you can ensure your guests are full and satisfied, but you’re not wasting lots either.

Although the type of party you have can heavily influence the amount of food you serve, a general rule of thumb for different food groups include the following per person:

225g meat

200g fish

60g rice

30g cheese

60g vegetables

100g potatoes

140g dessert

These volumes can vary, depending on whether you’re serving a sit down dinner or a cold buffet, but they’re a good average to follow.

Remember, the larger the group of people coming to your event, the less food you need! Crazy, right? If you have a guest list nearing the 40 mark, cater as if you’re feeding 33-35, as your guests are likely to eat less.

Regardless of what type of party you’re hosting, make your life easier and serve foods that are easy to make in advance. Lamb shanks and curries are great left in the slow cooker the day before a dinner party. Pavlovas are easy to store up to a week ahead – just decorate on the night!

Don’t forget the freezer is your friend; things like tarts, sausage rolls and mini pizzas can be made and stored in the freezer for a few months, taking a lot of stress out of your big event.

If you have any concerns about your party portions, bulk out on cheaper, filling ingredients like potatoes and bread. All those carbs will help soak up the booze!

You’ve been prepping your party for weeks; the rsvp’s have come back, you’ve got an epic party playlist and you know what you’re going to be serving. But how much food do you actually need? Here’s how you can ensure your guests are full and satisfied, but you’re not wasting lots either.

Although the type of party you have can heavily influence the amount of food you serve, a general rule of thumb for different food groups include the following per person:

225g meat

200g fish

60g rice

30g cheese

60g vegetables

100g potatoes

140g dessert

These volumes can vary, depending on whether you’re serving a sit down dinner or a cold buffet, but they’re a good average to follow.

Remember, the larger the group of people coming to your event, the less food you need! Crazy, right? If you have a guest list nearing the 40 mark, cater as if you’re feeding 33-35, as your guests are likely to eat less.

Regardless of what type of party you’re hosting, make your life easier and serve foods that are easy to make in advance. Lamb shanks and curries are great left in the slow cooker the day before a dinner party. Pavlovas are easy to store up to a week ahead – just decorate on the night!

Don’t forget the freezer is your friend; things like tarts, sausage rolls and mini pizzas can be made and stored in the freezer for a few months, taking a lot of stress out of your big event.

If you have any concerns about your party portions, bulk out on cheaper, filling ingredients like potatoes and bread. All those carbs will help soak up the booze!